Page 318 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat

316 as
Shia Wakf dept. -2-

prefer derelict mosques to be rebuilt instead of
the wakf property being improved, although in most

villages the number of mosques far exceeds the
requirements of the population.
Until the Wakf department was started no money
was ever spent on the gardens so their rental

value gradually diminished. During the year several
pieces of ground adjacent to wakf gardens have been
bought in order to consolidated the property.

The department has suffered somewhat through the
incessant intrigues and quarrels of the various
religious leaders among the Shias; although indi­

vidually they are all opposed to each other they
all resent the existence of a department which
prevents the wakf funds being maladministEated

and in many cases misappropriated by themselves.
The two Shia Kadis, who are Government officials, are
the only ones who do not endeavour to injure the or-
ganisation. The ex-Kadi Shaikh Khalaf is notoriously

mischievous in this respect and uses his great influ­
ence in persuading his followers to agitate for the
wakfs to be given back into his hands. Fortunately

the members of the Majlis are men of some standing and
qble
until now they have been/to counteract his opposition*
At the end of the year elections took place for
a new majlis but owing to Muharram the elections will

not be completed until during the first month of the
new year. The elections were held at the ohief

village of every district where about half a dozen
representatives were summoned from each village in the
neighbourhood. The voting was by ballot, each person
i